Top Poliitical Strategists: GOP Falling Short In 2014 Midterm Elections

Tepid fundraising, underperforming candidates and a lousy party brand are threatening to deprive House Republicans of the sweeping 2014 gains that some top party officials have been predicting this year. POLITICO interviewed more than a dozen top strategists from both parties about their outlook for the House in the midterms, and their assessment was nearly unanimous: Republicans are on track to expand their majority by only five or six seats, or roughly half their goal. The conversations covered everything from advertising strategies to fundraising to polling.

A small gain would again leave Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) largely beholden to the tea party wing of the party, with little room to maneuver on a governing agenda. With the post-Labor Day homestretch kicking off, the interviews revealed:
* Republicans are convinced they’ll be significantly outspent by Democrats — in contrast to the 2010 midterm elections, when the GOP overwhelmed its opponents with an avalanche of cash.

* GOP strategists are particularly worried about the performance of a handful of candidates who are well-positioned to win but seen as running poor campaigns. Three are mentioned repeatedly: Florida Rep. Steve Southerland, Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry and Virginia House candidate Barbara Comstock. * Nearly a year after the government shutdown, Republicans privately say the party’s tattered public image is dragging down candidates in key races.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/house-gop-2014-elections-goals-110499.html?hp=t1